A six-car train derailment in Woodhaven sparked a massive brush fire, leaving city officials completely unaware of the incident until flames engulfed the area.

The derailment occurred near Van Horn Rd and Ford Ln on September 14, but Woodhaven Fire Chief Brad Myles said the first 911 call came in around 12:30 p.m. not for a train derailment, but for a grass fire.

"And it wasn't long until we saw what looked like, to us, as a derailed train which the city of Woodhaven knew nothing about," Myles said.

The fire chief believes the blaze started when railroad crews attempted to clean up the derailment site. The dry summer conditions made the area particularly vulnerable to sparks.

"We've had a pretty dry summer, and they obviously sparked. We're out here about two to three acres, and they s

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